Russia launches Air-strikes in Syria Wednesday Sep 30,2015

Russia has launched a series of air strikes in Syria for a second day.

The strikes reportedly targeted sites in the north-west held by the Army of Conquest rebel alliance, as well as areas in Homs and Hama provinces.

Russia said it had carried out eight strikes overnight, and that it had hit 12 Islamic State (IS) positions hit in 24 hours.

Russia says its strikes have destroyed a command centre and two arms depots belonging to IS.

Thursday October 01,2015's strikes reportedly hit areas near the strategic town of Jisr al-Shughour, as well areas in Idlib province and Hama province further south

More than 50 planes and helicopters are involved in the Russian military operation in Syria, Russia's defence ministry said.

Note

The strikes come after weeks of military build-up and a combative speech by Vladimir Putin at the UN in which the Russian leader vowed to increase his country's  role in the fight against terrorism. Putin acquired unanimous parliamentary approval for military operations in Syria on Wednesday, and then rapidly mobilized jets already stationed in Syria

Syria's civil war

What's the human cost?
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured in four-and-a-half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war.
And the survivors?
More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes, four million of them abroad, as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS and other groups. Growing numbers of refugees are going to Europe

The Battle for Syria and Iraq in Maps